Charging bucket for cupolas



CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS Filed Jan. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Waacirzaf/ d Morey, Jczmea M 17411 erzbefg P 5, 1967 w. A. MOREY ETAL CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 4, 1966 United States Patent 3,339,964 CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS Woodrulf A. Morey, Flossmoor, and James M. Dalenberg, South Holland, 11]., assignors to Whiting Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 518,605 12 Claims. (Cl. 294-71) This invention relates in a general way to charging buckets for cupolas and more particularly the invention relates to new and improved construction of such a charging bucket thereby adapting the same for better dumping of a charge contained therein.

By way of background, reference is made to Fones Patent No. 2,712,468, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As explained in the Fones patent, one of the most popular types of devices for changing cupolas includes a skip hoist arrangement wherein an inclined runway is pivotally supported at its lower end and raises a charge containing bucket to the cupola charging level. This runway may be turned on its pivot to serve several cupolas arranged in an arcuate formation along the path of movement of the swinging or upper end of the runway. One form of bucket includes either single or double doors at its bottom, which door or doors are automatically opened when the bucket reaches the upper end of the runway thereby to dump the charge into the cupola. The aforementioned Fones patent covers a charging bucket having a conical bottom as opposed to one or more bottom doors.

The charging bucket disclosed and claimed in the F ones patent has proved to be quite satisfactory. However, in instances where the charge includes items of excessive size, such as engine blocks, for example, jamming or bridging of the charge has sometimes occurred in the charging bucket. The present invention has to do with a charging bucket wherein jamming of a charge contained therein is made unlikely and wherein the charge therein is dumped or discharged in the cupola in an improved manner.

A primary object of the present invention is the pr0- vision of a cupola charging bucket incorporating new and improved construction for virtually eliminating jamming and for achieving better distribution of the charge in releasing the same into the cupola.

Another .object of the present invention is to provide in association with a charging bucket of the type having bottom doors, an upright conical member freely suspended in the bucket by a bendable member whereby the likelihood of jamming is reduced and whereby the charge Patented Sept. 5, 1967 charging bucket having a shell of upright frusto-conical shape, a pair of doors at the bottom of the shell, and an upright conical member freely suspended in the shell by a bendable member so that the conical member is disposed centrally of the shell in adjacent relation with the doors with the latter in their closed position.

Even another object of the present invention is to provide a charging bucket having a pair of doors at the bottom thereof, an upright conical member freely supported in the bucket by a bendable member with the base of the conical member suspended in adjacent relation with the doors in their closed position, and lug means on the doors arranged to engage the conical member for holding the same in the centrally disposed position in the bucket during loading of the same.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification disclosing a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sideelevatio'n of the charging bucket showing the same in the dumping position within a cupola;

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the charging bucket of FIG. 1 and also showing a portion of the supporting mechanism therefor;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, the charging bucket of this invention, designated 10, will be seen to include an upright, generally cylindrical shell 11 preferably formed of fabricated steel construction. It will be noted that the shell 11 is actually of frustoe conical shape with the larger portion thereof being at the bottom of the shell. The upper portion or mouth of the shell includes an upwardly and outwardly extending annular flange 12 which facilitates loading of a charge into the shell 11. The flange 12 is braced by a number of web plates 14 which are preferably welded to the shell 11 and flange 12. The shell 11 includes generally vertically extending reinforcing ribs 15 supporting diametrically opposed trunnions 16. At this time it should be mentioned that only one half of the charging bucket is illustrated in FIG. 2; the charging bucket and the supporting mechanism therefore are symmetrical about the centerline 17.

Trunnions 16 are journaled in the ends of arms 18 forming a part of a carriage 20, which carriage is mounted in the bucket is discharged in a manner contributing to eflicient cupola operation.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a charging bucket having bottom doors and having a length of chain or cable freely suspending an upright conical member centrally in the bucket and in adjacent relation with the doors in the closed position thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to 'pro- Vide in a charging bucket of the type having semi-circular shaped bottom doors defining a parting line extending diametrically of the shell, a cross bar in the shell extending in parallel vertically spaced relation with the parting line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a changing bucket having a shell of frusto-conical shape with the larger diameter portion at the bottom thereof, and to equip such a shell with bottom door means thereby to facilitate releasing of a charge by reducing the possibility of jamming of the charge against the side walls of the shell.

t Another object of the present invention is to provide a for running up and down along an inclined runway, the upper end of which is fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 1

and represented by the numeral 21. A typical runway and carriage are illustrated in the aforementioned Fones patent. In FIG. 1, the charging bucket 10 is illustrated in its upward limit of travel along the runway 21; in this position the bucketlO is disposed within the cupola 22 for releasing a charge thereinto. Reference may be had to the aforementioned Fones patent for an illustration of a cupola of the type represented by reference character 22 herein.

The lower ends of ribs 15 mount a opposed pivot pins 24. Each pin 24 bent arm 25 intermediate the ends of pair of diametrically pivotally mounts a the latter. One end of each arm 25 includes a projection 25a which serves as a door latch as will be explained hereinbelow. The other ends of arms 25 are pivotally connected to ends of respective rods 26. As noted in FIG. 2, each rod 26 has the other end thereof outwardly bent as at 26a. Ends 26a are connected together by a cross member 27 thereby to cause movement in unison of the rods 26 and associated arms 25. Opposite ends of cross member 27 are pivotally suspended from a pair of links 28. The'upper ends of these links are pivotally connected to the carriage 20.

In FIG. 1, numeral 30 represents an upright member forming part of the support means for the upper end of runway 21. It will be understood that an upright member 30 is provided on each side of the runway 21. Each member 30 supports a plate 31, which plate in turn mounts a small angle member 32. As carriage 20 approaches its uppermost limit of travel, outwardly extending ends 26a of the rods 26 engage plates 31 and the angles 32 thereby to cause rocking of arms 25 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. As will become apparent, this movement of the arms 25 causes unlatching of the charging bucket doors for releasing a charge from the bucket.

A pair of bracket plates 34 are connected, as by welding, to respective arms 25. Bracket plates 34 mount a generally arcuate shaped counterweight assembly 35, which assembly urges the arms 25 to the phantom line position illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the lower ends thereof engage stops 36 secured to the shell adjacent the lower portion thereof. The counterweight assembly prevents inadvertent opening of the charging bucket doors during raising of the latter along the runway 21 and also causes latching of the doors as will be explained below.

The shell 11 supports a pair of web plates 38, which plates mount a pair of aligned pivot pins 39. These pivot pins 39 hingedly or pivotally engage right angle arms .40 integral with a door 41. It will be understood that in the embodiment shown herein for purposes of illustra tion this door is of a semi-circular shape and serves to close one half of the bottom of the shell 11. Door 41 includes an outwardly projecting lip 41a along the straight edge thereof.

Shell 11 includes another pair of bracket plates 42 mounting respective, aligned pivots 43. These pivots hingedly or pivotally engage right angle arms integral with a door 45. This door is likewise semi-circular in shape for closing one half of the bottom of the shell. Door 45 includes a ledge 45a along the straight edge thereof adapted to receive and support the lip 41a on the door 41. In other words, when door 45 is in its closed position it serves to hold door 41 in the closed position. Door 45 includes a pair of oppositely extending studs 46, which studs are adapted to be engaged by respective projections 2511 on the arms 25 thereby to hold door 45, and in turn door 41, in their closed position. In FIG. 1, the doors are shown in their opened position by solid lines and in their closed position by phantom lines.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shell 11 of the charging bucket includes a cross bar, generally designated 48, in the upper portion thereof. This cross bar, which extends diametrically of the shell 11 in parallel, vertically spaced relation with parting line defined by the straight edges of doors 41, 45, includes a web plate 49 and an angle 50. The angle 50 is peaked at a point (FIG. 3) which lies on the vertical central axis of the shell 11. Web plate 49 mounts a block 52, which block is bifurcated at the upper end thereof for receiving a portion of the web plate. The block is connected to the web plate by means of a bolt or pin 53. Block 52 includes a slot 52a suitably receiving and supporting one end of a bendable member which in the embodiment illustrated consists of a chain 55. It will be understood that the block 52 is aligned with the vertical central axis of the shell 11, and therefore chain 55 is arranged to depend along this vertical central axis.

The lower end of chain 55 is received in a slot formed in a cylindrical member 57 and is held therein by means of a pin 58. Member 57 is connected to or is integral with a grooved, frusto-conical member 60, which member includes a cylindrical portion 60a defining the base thereof.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, doors 41, 45 are illustrated in their closed position. It will be noted that with the doors in their closed position, the member 60 is suspended by the chain 55 with the base surface of member 60 in closely spaced relation with the upper surfaces of the doors. Member 60 includes a frusto-conical shaped recess 60b in the base thereof. As noted in FIG. 4, doors 41, 45 support respective lugs 62, 63 adjacent their straight edges. Lugs 62, 63 are arranged for being received within the recess 60b when the doors are in their closed position. These lugs, which are shaped for complementary engagement within the recess 60b, serve as centering devices to prevent substantial movement of displacement of the member 60 during loading of the shell 11. In other words, the lugs 62, 63 serve as a means for maintaining the member 60 in its centrally disposed position during loading of the charging bucket.

In operation, as the loadedcharging bucket approaches the uppermost limit of travel along the runway 21, rod ends 2611 strike plates 31 and angles 32 thereby preventing further upward movement of the rods 26. Upon continued upward movement of the charging bucket 10, relative movement between the latter and the rods causes projections 25a to be unlatched from the door studs 46 thereby releasing both doors.

The charging bucket is lowered with the doors thereof in the open position. As the bucket reaches its lowermost limit of travel, the opened doors engage a horizontal supporting surface or platform (not shown) and therefore, continued lowering of the charging bucket causes closing of the doors. The door 41 is designed to close first thereby insuring supporting engagement of the lip 41a by the ledge 45a. Studs 46 on the door 45 engage the inclined surfaces on projections 25a and thereby cam the arms 25 clockwise (FIG. 1) to allow full closing of the doors. Counterweight 35 returns arms 25 to their position against stops 36, in which position the projections 25a engage studs 46 and thereby latch the doors in their closed position. During closing of the doors, the lugs 62, 63 enter the recess 60b of the conical member 60 which is freely suspended centrally of the shell by the chain 55.

Conical member 60 prevents an accumulation of charging material in the center of the charging bucket adjacent the bottom doors thereof, and upon opening of the doors the member 60 causes the charging material to fall near the walls of the cupola 22 thereby improving operation of the latter as is known to those skilled in the art. Since the conical member 60 has the largest diameter thereof substantially less than the diameter of the shell 11 adjacent the bottom thereof, and since the conical member 60 is freely supported by the chain 55, the conical member does not cause jamming of the charge in the shell 11, even if the charge should consist of objects of substantial size. Cross bar 48, which extends in parallel, vertically spaced relation with the door parting line defined by the straight edges of the doors 41, 45, tends to prevent an accumulation of charging material over the parting line of the doors thereby resulting in more even distribution of the charging load upon opening of the doors. The member 60, although freely suspended in the charging bucket thereby substantially to eliminate jamming during release of a charge, is prevented from being displaced out of its centrally disposed relation during loading of the bucket by reason of the engagement of the lugs 62, 63 with the recess 60b of the conical member.

The frusto-conical shape of the shell 11 of itself materially contributes to reduce the possibility of jamming of a charge within the bucket. Since the side walls of the shell taper downwardly and outwardly, it is very unlikely if not impossible for an object, even though a scrap metal object of excessive size and having sharp surfaces, to be jammed against the side walls or to be bridged across the side walls.

Although only the chain 55 has been disclosed as the bendable member supporting the conical member 60, the invention is not to be limited to the use of a chain as a cable, for example, can also be used. Furthermore,

tests have shown that the conical member can be satisfactorily supported by a pair of bars or links having adjacent ends joined together by an articulated connection and having their other ends joined to the cross bar and conical member, respectively, by articulated connections. Accordingly, the term bendable means or bendable member as used herein and in the appended claims means any member of fixed length which is bendable or jointed at least in several locations along its length for freely supporting the member 60 as described and for preventing an object in the charge from making a purchase on the bendable member which might cause jamming.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not to be so limited. On the contrary, the invention is susceptible of various forms and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A charging bucket for cupolas and the like comprising, an upright, generally cylindrical shell, means on the shell adapting the same to be supported, door means movably secured to said shell adjacent the bottom thereof for movement between closed and opened positions, which door means close the bottom of said shell when in said closed position and substantially open the bottom of said shell when in said opened position, latch means for releasably holding said door means in the closed position, structural means supported by said shell adjacent the upper portion thereof, an upright conical member having its greatest diameter substantially less than the diameter of said shell at the bottom thereof, and elongated bendable means of fixed length connected to said structural means and said conical member thereby freely suspending the latter centrally in said shell and adjacent said door means in the closed position thereof.

2. The charging bucket according to claim 1 wherein said bendable means comprises a length of chain or cable.

3. The charging bucket according to claim 1 wherein said door means comprises a pair of semi-circular shaped doors, which doors, in the closed position thereof, define a parting line extending diametrically of said shell, and wherein said structural mean-s comprises a cross bar extending in parallel, vertically spaced relation with said parting line.

4. The charging bucket according to claim 3 further defined by lug means on each of said doors, which lug means engage said conical member, when said doors are in their closed positions, for holding said conical member in its centrally disposed position during loading of said bucket.

5. The charging bucket according to claim 4 wherein said conical member has a recess in the bottom thereof and wherein said lug means fits within said recess.

6. The charging bucket according to claim 1 wherein said shell is generally frusto-conical shaped with the larger diameter portion being at the bottom of the shell.

7. In a charging bucket for cupolas of the type including an upright, generally cylindrical shell having means thereon adapting the shell to be supported, door means movably secured to the shell adjacent the bottom thereof for movement between closed and opened positions, which door means close the bottom of said shell when in said closed position and substantially open the bottom of said shell when in said opened position, and latch means for releasably holding said door means in the closed position, the improvement comprising, structural means supported by said shell and establishing a fixed connection point disposed centrally of said shell ad jacent the upper portion thereof, elongated, bendable means having one end thereof connected to said structural means at said point, an upright conical member suspended from the other end of said bendable means, which conical member has its greatest diameter substantially less than the diameter of said shell at the bottom thereof, said bendable means serving freely to support said conical member with the base thereof in adjacent relation with said door means in the closed position thereof.

8. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said bendable means comprises a length of chain or cable.

9. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said door means comprise a pair of semi-circular shaped doors, which doors, in the closed position thereof, define a parting line extending diametrically of said shell, and wherein said structural means comprises a cross bar extending in parallel, vertically spaced relation with said parting line.

10. The improvement according to claim 9 further defined by lug means on each of said doors, which lug means engage said conical member, when said doors are in their closed position, for holding said conical member in its centrally disposed position during loading of said bucket.

11. The improvement according to claim 10 wherein said conical member has a recess in the bottom thereof and wherein said lug means fit within said recess.

12. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said shell is generally frusto-conical shaped with the larger diameter portion being at the bottom of the shell.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,385 10/1896 Denig 2,784,025 

1. A CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, AN UPRIGHT, GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL SHELL, MEANS ON THE SHELL ADAPTING THE SAME TO BE SUPPORTED, DOOR MEANS MOVABLEY SECURED TO SAID SHELL ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN CLOSED AND OPENED POSITIONS, WHICH DOOR MEANS CLOSE THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHELL WHEN IN SAID CLOSED POSITION AND SUBSTANTIALLY OPEN THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHELL WHEN IN SAID OPENED POSITION, LATCH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID DOOR MEANS IN THE CLOSED POSITION, STRUCTURAL MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID SHELL ADJACENT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, AN UPRIGHT CONICAL MEMBER HAVING ITS GREATEST DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID SHELL AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, AND ELONGATED BENDABLE MEANS OF FIXED LENGTH CONNECTED TO SAID STRUCTURAL MEANS AND SAID CONICAL MEMBER THEREBY FREELY SUSPENDING THE LATTER CENTRALLY IN SAID SHELL AND ADJACENT SAID DOOR MEANS IN THE CLOSED POSITION THEREOF. 